The summer normally signals a Hollywood South slow-down. Between the Southeast Louisiana heat and hurricane season, it's not exactly ideal conditions for movie makers. This summer has proved to be different.

Hollywood South is heating up. A few days ago Beth McInerney woke up to a film crew in her front yard. For Metairie neighbors it's an exciting scene.

"It's awesome, I never thought I would see something like right here.I mean you walk out your door and they got all these crew," McInerney said.

She lives across the street from East Jefferson High School where the feature film "When The Game Stands Tall" is filming. It's about a visionary football coach who led a struggling team to national record-breaking success all while teaching them to stand for something greater than winning.

Film action is heavy in New Orleans as well. Katie Williams with the Mayor's Office of Cultural Economy said eight projects are currently filming in the city, and another eight start production in late summer or early fall.

"It's been an incredible start to the summer," Williams said. "We'd always slow down a little bit in the summer, but you'd still have four to five projects shoot throughout the summer. Looking at this summer we have over 16 projects choosing the city for their filming destination."

The "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" production is having an impact on downtown traffic. Through June 24 streets will be closed within the 100 and 200 blocks of South Rampart Street, the 1000 block of Common Street, and the 1100 block of Tulane Avenue.

"There's various businesses in that area that are being worked in the production as well as the commuter traffic is being detoured to Loyola Ave," Williams explained.

It's an inconvenience that's a benefit to some locals. Williams said eighty percent of the 'Planet of the Apes' production crew is made up of local workers.

"They have over 800 crew members and 600 of those are local citizens working daily, getting paid and their money is staying here," she added.

That doesn't include the hundreds of extras hired for each film.

On Thursday and Friday the 'Planet of the Apes' production crew is filming scenes from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. that will include simulated gunfire. Uniformed officers will be on site to ensure the public's safety.